~*~Rachel~*~

The website crashed yesterday for most the day. When that happened a lot of peoples profiles got lost. Including mine..When I tried to log in it said I did not exists. Even when I searched for my post or my name on my friends pages I just disappeared. So I had to email support@WLSBoards.com <support@WLSBoards.com> to get my account back. Most everything is restored as far as my account just a few post I made yesterday morning. Anyway Thanks support team I was about to go into withdrawals!

So Today is post op day 6. Almost a week into being band. I am getting the hang of things but I have not been counting my calories but I know I am going no where near the recommended amounts with what I am eating. I know I need to get better at that since when I get back on solids I will have to be vigilant on this. So anyway I am feeling okay have had a few bouts of nausea but phenergan and rest has made it better. I am tolerating liquids and most everything else on my diet. I am having a lot of trouble getting in the recommended amounts of protein and water however as I have always struggled with. I have tried several different brands of protein powder and have a bad reaction to the slightest bit. I have never been lactose intolerant so I did some research and it says that I may be allergic to soy and whey. I have tried powders for them both. My incisions are quite smaller then I expected and I do have a lot of bruising and swelling at my port site. As far as pain it is almost gone unless I do too much which is hard for me to just sit and not do house work. I have not felt hungry but once on day three and have to make myself eat. I did have my first episode of hiccups and man that did not feel good. I am still struggling with energy level so I have started taking b12 and going to try to move around a lot more today and get back in my pre surgery habits of walking I think I have rested long enough. Tomorrow I get to move to a pureed diet so I will have to start trying some new things. Nervous about advancing but I have tolerated everything fine. My follow up appointment is not until feb 14th hopefully I will have developed some good habits by then and get ready to go back to work at the end of feb. I find it still hard to watch my husband eat really good food or even something that I would not even want but now I do while I am sitting here sipping on soup but what do I do? He has to eat too. It is very easy in these first few days to sit here and get depressed I have found. But I constantly remind myself that I am doing this for a great change. Hopefully in the days to come when I get back to my old routine of doing things I will feel better. It is just hard to focus on this which I need to be right now deal with life worry about bills tend to everything else that you have to in life. Seems I am living from one meal to the next not living. But like I said I am going to try to start incorporating everyday life and find a balance with my band. I am determined to succeed at this. xoxoxo Rach

I am on day 8 still get tired really easy. If your working from home I don't see a problem. My doctor wont let me go back for a month or maybe longer. But I am a critical care nurse. I can't run to codes and do chest compressions and pull on patients right now so I too am enjoying some paid time off..

Its the protein powder for me... I have tried whey and soy have never been Lactose intolerant so i did some research. Found out that it can be common to have a allergic reaction to the protein powder.

Yes yes and yes! Its amazing how tired I was after simple task like washing my hair. I am 8 days post op and still have some pain at my port site. My bruising at my port site did not show up till day 4 or 5 so then I began to understand why it was bothering me so bad.

Wow wow wow..... Back up!!!!!! Victoria are you crazy!!!! I talk to you just about everyday! This is not a diet! this is a lifestyle change. It is emotional it messes with your head in worse ways! You are 7 weeks post op and have only had 1 fill and you have lost 35lbs! How many people on here never loose until there 3rd or 4th fill? Stop worrying about other people and asking you how much you have lost. I know you want to hear the difference for that does give you motivation but things have got to come in its own time. This is for you not them. I am sorry to hear you are still getting hungry but maybe that first fill is not your sweet spot. Its okay to rant and rave my God you know I do lol. The truth is the first few weeks are hard they are a test in the worst ways but you have made it 7 weeks. Tomorrow is always a new day to get back on the wagon. I fill like I have to do that everyday I wake up say okay today I am going to be good with my protein vitamins and water walking and if I don't I get up the next day and say it again one of these days we will get our butts in gear! Don't loose motivation yet. Your doing great! Relax. make a goal for today fulfill it... Make that same goal for tomorrow and add another... fulfill both we will get this done! Take a moment and breath and think of what all you have accomplished so far think of all you have been through and push forward!

I will be praying for you in the next few days! Keep focused and be excited your starting a new direction in your life!

Thanks for the suggestions I will try them!

I am taking full advantage of my ge personal blender that I have talked about before on my blog. My husband keeps saying "i told you you needed a magic bullet" So glad he found this one a lot cheaper and just as good. So anyway today is post op day three. Feeling better the pain is getting better every minute starting to feel like I have a little energy. This morning a friend on LBT said she had some oatmeal so of course I looked in my band bible and there it was Oatmeal. So Jason <my husband> had to go to the store STAT. Maple brown sugar warm and I may have made it a little thick but i blended it in my GE blender and mixed a little protein powder <unflavored of course> and yummy heaven!!! I am sure I ate too much and too fast but I only ate like a fourth of a cup. Then I swallowed my water wrong and oh lord the coughing fit that followed i thought I would bust open and don't me started on my first sneeze post op that happened this morning with no warning or ability to guard my tummy. I have come up with some creative protein shakes but can not seem to get the portion size right and always have a lot left over and not sure how much of the protein powder I am getting. I guess it is all trial and error and mind set. I use to always say my eyes are bigger then my stomach and now I guess it is true. I am going to have to pretend I am fixing a plate for a two year old instead of myself. I will tackle another shower in a little while and hope that I have the energy to wash my hair. Having trouble as well fitting in vitamins and water and protein and everything else that is required. I guess it is trial and error and its only day three. Hope all is finding my fellow banders well this morning. I guess my wisdom for today.... Patience and the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown -Chinese Proverb xoxoxo Rach

I know its kinda hard to stay off the scale but they differ especially if they are electronic ones with each step plus you could be about to start your period. I am trying to implement a rule for a weight in day I weigh do measurements and write it in my book. Done for a week. otherwise it is going to drive me insane. Seems like you had a sensible day healthy choices Not sure about the amounts but be proud you made the effort to make good choices and please don't be a scalewhore Like me

Are you having trouble swallowing liquids? Nausea? When was the last time you were checked for a band slippage?

This sounds like my biggest fear. I have a fear of my body "rejecting the band" I wonder if there is such a thing?

Amber I am with you I have only felt hunger on third day post op most of my hunger is in my head. I have forced myself to eat. I feel lucky in this as well but at times it contributes to me being nauseated when I have to force myself to eat.

Congrats hun we are praying for you update us asap!

I am no help in this department. While I am not eating solids I just did have a couple bits of some cream potatoes.